To the Editor:

Last week you granted me the space to express my concerns about BESS developments in the town of New Scotland [“BESS risks to surrounding communities are not eliminated”]. What I neglected to disclose is that I have supported this and every elected Democratic town candidate since we, the residents, drove out another elected Democratic town board over its lack of concern about big-box development.

In 2024, as a Democratic Committee member, I worked hand in hand with many of our current Democratic officials in support of our national, state, and local candidates. I am proud that we turned out 80 percent of the village of Voorheesville voters in the 2024 election. As a party, many of us chose to replace our sitting Democratic district attorney candidate in our Democratic primary for what we perceived to be two separate conflicts of interest.

Although I look with pride in the accomplishment of the town’s moving, preserving, and restoring the Hilton barn, I am haunted by my grandmother’s enjoinder, “Any jackass can kick over the barn, not any jackass can build one!”

Some may see my current effort to fall into the latter category. The Democratic leaders of the town of New Scotland deserve credit for many things — keeping taxes in check, preserving the rural character of the community, respect for agriculture, senior services, maintenance of our local roads, the Helderberg Rail Trail, etc.

Now I am sorry to say, I must urge them to call for a moratorium on BESS development before the Nov. 4 general election; committing after that vote to revisit and revise the enacted Local Law No. 1 of 2024; and to table approval for any BESS proposal pending before the town, until the New Scotland community is able to weigh in and address their full concerns.

Frankly many Democrats, concerned Republicans, independents and non-aligned voters, me included, were distracted by the threats posed at our national level and sought to shore up support for Democratic candidates at the federal and state level while Local Law No. 1 of 2024 was under development and enacted on May 8, 2024.

In the course of which we missed seeing the threats posed to our residential neighborhoods. Although many, if not most, of us recognize the need to protect our global environment and support renewable energy, it must be done in a thoughtful, well-reasoned and sensible way.

It is hard for many of us to look past wrapping the town board’s enactment of Local Law No. 1 of 2024 in the dual flags of environment and energy development, when we see one member of that board possibly benefiting from proposals placing three such units in a single residential neighborhood on Wormer Road. 

I stand with every member of the town of New Scotland community who oppose any and all Tier 2 or Tier 3 BESS installations in or near our residential neighborhoods.

I do not threaten to vote for their Republican opponents if the moratorium is not affected before Election Day. I do promise to refrain from voting for any town of New Scotland Democratic candidates on Nov. 4 if they do not.

Brian Nopper

New Scotland